Download Q AND A - Monash Health

MONASH CANCER CENTRE
SOUTHERN HEALTH
in partnership with Peter Mac
Q AND A
1.
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
All cancer-related facilities and services at Southern Health’s Monash Medical Centre Moorabbin are
being linked together under one new name - the “Monash Cancer Centre”.
2.
WHAT IS THE MONASH CANCER CENTRE?
The Monash Cancer Centre is one of Victoria’s premier cancer facilities that provides more than one
and a half million residents of southern Melbourne access to world leading cancer treatment close to
where they live.
It refers to the group of cancer services and facilities operated by Southern Health within its Monash
Medical Centre Moorabbin, in partnership with Peter Mac.
The Monash Cancer Centre combines in one convenient location for patients the cancer excellence of
Victoria’s largest health service, Southern Health, with Victoria’s world-renowned leader in cancer
treatment, research and education, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute (Peter Mac).
3.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
The Monash Cancer Centre provides:
 timely, appropriate care for cancer patients referred primarily from the south east sector of greater
Melbourne, including medical, surgical and radiation oncology care;
 a collaborative, highly qualified multidisciplinary team framework for patient care; and
 a single integrated centre enabling greater collaboration and development of joint research to
improve cancer treatment outcomes.
Over 580 staff provided 9257 chemotherapy treatments and 29472 radiotherapy treatments in 2009.
760 new patients received chemotherapy and 1537 patients commenced new radiotherapy
treatments in 2009
4.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Southern Health and Peter Mac have a longstanding commitment to excellence in the battle against
cancer in our community, and have worked together since 1994 to provide radiotherapy services at
Monash Medical Centre Moorabbin.
This 15 year collaboration has evolved into one of Victoria’s premier cancer care facilities, that builds
on the Moorabbin hospital’s long history providing highest quality care to its community and beyond.
The new name reflects the value and role of this collaboration in the delivery of Victoria’s cancer
services, recently renewed with a further five year collaboration agreement.
5.
WHERE IS IT LOCATED?
The Monash Cancer Centre is located within the Monash Medical Centre Moorabbin, 823-865 Centre
Road, Bentleigh, Victoria, 15 kilometres southeast of Melbourne.
MCC Q and A February 2010
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6.
WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE MONASH CANCER CENTRE?
The Monash Cancer Centre provides the following patient leading services :
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Chemotherapy Day Unit
Inpatient Oncology Ward 2
Multidisciplinary Outpatients
Oncology Research and Clinical Trials
Radiotherapy
The Monash Cancer Centre also provides supportive care services including:
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Breast Cancer Care Coordination (Breast Care Nurses)
Head and Neck Cancer Clinical Nurse Consultancy
Gynaecology / Oncology Nurse Consultancy
Urology Clinical Nurse Consultancy
Palliative Care Consultancy
Pastoral Care
Lymphodema Clinic
Breast Services
Cancer Genetic Serice
The following partners in cancer care are also located within the “Monash Cancer Centre”:
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Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Services (SMICS – see below)
BreastScreen Victoria (see below)
WHAT IS NOT PART OF THE MONASH CANCER CENTRE?
The following services and programs at Monash Medical Centre Moorabbin are not part of the
Monash Cancer Centre:
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Orthopaedics
Haemodialysis
Ear Nose and Throat – non malignant
Gynaecology – non malignant
Urology – non malignant
Simulation Centre
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOUTHERN HEALTH AND PETER MAC?
Since 1994 Southern Health and Peter Mac have worked closely together to provide radiotherapy
services at Monash Medical Centre Moorabbin. This collaboration links the unique size and skills of
both organisations to provide one of Victoria’s premier cancer care facilities right where people live.
Southern Health provides the facilities and equipment and a range of specialised cancer care services
at the Monash Cancer Centre. Peter Mac operates the radiotherapy equipment that enables
Southern Health and Peter Mac patients to receive their treatments including:
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Specialised consultation services
Diagnostic and staging services
Radiotherapy services
Supportive care services
Clinical trials and
Other medical services
MCC Q and A February 2010
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9.
ARE YOU RENAMING THE WHOLE MONASH MEDICAL CENTRE MOORABBIN?
No. The name Monash Medical Centre Moorabbin applies to the whole site. The name “Monash
Cancer Centre” applies to that part of the facility that houses all cancer related services and partners.
10. ARE ALL SOUTHERN HEALTH’S CANCER SERVICES LOCATED THERE?
No. Southern Health also operates cancer services at:
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Dandenong Hospital - Day Oncology Centre and complex high risk surgical cancer treatment
Monash Medical Centre Clayton - Monash Children’s Cancer Centre, Ward 44 South and
complex high risk surgical cancer treatment
11. DOES THE CENTRE HAVE A ROLE IN VICTORIA’S CANCER ACTION PLAN?
Yes. The Victorian Cancer Action Plan foreshadows expansion of metropolitan and regional cancer
centres. It also highlights further consideration of strengthening the important clinical
services/research/academic links in the Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (SMICS)
catchment, referencing a Southern Metropolitan Regional Cancer Hub. The naming and direction of
Monash Cancer Centre is fully consistent with these directions.
12. IS IT STILL PART OF SOUTHERN HEALTH?
Yes. Southern Health operates the Monash Cancer Centre.
13. IS IT NOW ALL PART OF PETER MAC?
No. The Monash Cancer Centre contains all cancer services and facilities Southern Health provides
at the Moorabbin site, including those operated in partnership with Peter Mac. Peter Mac operations
at Moorabbin have always been a part of Peter Mac hosted within our facilities.
14. IS IT RELATED TO SOUTHERN MELBOURNE INTEGRATED CANCER SERVICES (SMICS)
Monash Cancer Centre is the location of the office of SMICS. This reflects Southern Health’s role as
the host agency for the body established to implement the Cancer Services Framework for Victoria
across southern Melbourne. SMICS is a joint initiative of Southern Health, Alfred Health and
Peninsula Health. Cabrini Health, a major private cancer service provider has significant
representation. For more information visit www.smics.org.au .
15. IS IT RELATED TO BREASTSCREEN VICTORIA (BV)?
Monash Cancer Centre is also the location of BV’s Screening and Assessment Service Monash that
delivers expert mammographic screening and assessment services to eligible women across
southern Melbourne. This office supports a network of 7 community screening centres. BV is part of
BreastScreen Australia, the national screening program for women Australia. For more information
visit www.breastscreen.org.au . www.breastscreen.org.au
16. WHAT CHANGES WILL I NOTICE?
You will notice new signs directing you to Monash Cancer Centre facilities, and letting you know when
you are within it. These signs reflect the logos of both Southern Health and Peter Mac to highlight the
collaboration. You will also notice the new name on communications relating to the Centre’s services.
17. ARE THERE NEW CONTACT DETAILS?
No. Telephone numbers remain the same for all cancer services. New online information is also
available via Southern Health’s website www.southernhealth.org.au .
MCC Q and A February 2010
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